Sofa-bed bedding protector



Jan. 7, 1958 B. CASTRO SOFA-BED BEDDING PROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30 1,956

'Jan. 7, 1958 B. cAsTRo SOFA-BED BEDDING PROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1956 INVENTOR ,B ernarol Coos tro 7 ATTOR SOFA-BED BEDDING PROTECTOR Bernard Castro, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Application January 30, 1956, Serial No. 562,148

Claims. (Cl. 513) This invention relates to an arrangement for protecting the sheets and bedding of a convertible sofa-bed when the bed is being opened and closed.

An object of this invention is to provide an efficient, low cost arrangement for keeping the sheets and bedding of a convertible sofa-bed from being cut and mangled by the bed mechanism when opening or closing the bed.

A further object is to provide such an arrangement which can easily and permanently be installed on sofabeds already in use as well as on beds as they are manufactured.

These and other objects will in part be understood from and in part pointed out in the description given hereinafter.

In one type of convertible sofa-bed, for example, the folding and unfolding of the bed is controlled by two side linkage mechanisms each of which is adapted to be doubled over upon itself in U shape. The bed mattress is supported between these mechanisms on springs with the edges of the sheets and bedding closely adjacent them. These side linkage mechanisms include a number of pivoted levers and links which, when the bed is being folded, move past each other in scissors-like fashion. As a result the sheets and bedding, which are being folded upon themselves and hence pressed out at the sides, are sometimes pushed in between these links and levers and thereby are either cut or torn. The present invention seeks to overcome this difficulty by providing an effective barrier between mechanism and bedding.

In "accordance with the present invention a special set of flexible but yet springy and stiif guards is placed between bedding and mechanism on each side of a con vertible bed. These guards are advantageously formed so that they are retained in place on the bed mechanism by the bed springs in conjunction with protective grommets which pass through the side linkages and the guards. As a result, no special fittings are required on the bed mechanism and the guards can be installed after the bed has left the factory.

A better understanding of the invention together with a fuller appreciation of its many advantages will best be gained from a study of the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view illustrating a convertible sofabed mechanism in open or unfolded position and showing the position of the guards provided according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side View of mechanism and guards of Figure 1 when the sofa-bed is in its folded or sofa" position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2 showing the guards alone in folded position;

Figure 4 is a further enlarged section view of one of the guards taken as indicated by lines 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section View of a portion of Figure 2 showing the guards alone in unfolded position;

ited rates Patent 0 Figure 6 is a section view of the guards taken as indicated by lines 66 in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one element of the guards.

As seen in Figure 1, a convertible sofa-bed 10 includes a side folding mechanism, generally indicated at 12, the other side mechanism not shown being the mirror image of this one. Supported between mechanisms 12 on springs stretched therebetween are the mattress, bedding and sheets, generally indicated at 14.

Each side folding mechanism 12 includes an intermediate section 16, a connecting section 18, and an end section 20 pivoted to each other and adapted to be folded into a U shape. Pivoted to respective ones of these sections are the legs 22 and 24 and the bracing and automatic leg folding linkages including levers and links 25 through 32. When the bed is moved to its folded position with section 20 lying above section 16, levers and links 25 through 32 are shifted and pivoted to new positions, as shown in Figure 2, and in so doing are moved past one another with a scissors-like action.

To prevent bedding 14 from being caught between these levers and links, the three guard members 34, 36 and 38 are provided according to the invention. Each is fastened to a respective one of sections 16, 18 and 20 and positioned between the bedding and the side linkages.

Figure 2 shows side sections 16,18 and 20 folded with bedding 14 compressed therebetween. Guards 34, 36 and 38 now form composite a U-shaped side barrier, as can best be seen in the enlarged View of Figure 3, and effectively prevent the bedding 14 from protruding between the side links and levers when the bed is being closed or opened.

As seen in Figure 4, guard 34, for example, is fastened to frame side section 16 by grommets 40 and by springs 42 which pass through matching eyelets in guard 34 and section 16 and which stretch to a similar arrangement on the other side of the bed. Springs 42 are under tension and they together with grommets 40 provide a tight fastening for the guards, each guard being mounted in similar fashion.

Each guard is made of moulded rubber and, as shown in Figure 4, has an upper flange 43 and a lower edge 44 shaped like an inverted 7, the latter being provided with spaced eyelets through which the grommets 40 are fitted and the springs 42 are hooked, as explained above. As seen here and in Figures 5 and 7, the side of each guard has fastened to its outer surface on the opposite side from springs 42, a flat spring 46. This spring adds stiffness to the guard and is attached thereto at its two ends and its middle, by rivets as indicated by munbers 48. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, guards 34 and 38 are notched at respective corners 50 and 52 so that they fit more closely over the ends of guard 36 which, as seen in Figure 6, is positioned overlapping the front ends of guards 34 and 38.

Guards 34, 36 and 38 are advantageously each moulded of stifi rubber and are about one-eighth inch thick tapering slightly from top to bottom as shown and are about four inches wide. Guard 36, in one embodiment was ten inches long and guards 34, 38, twelve inches. Notches 50 and 52 were about one inch square.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to use solely with sofa-beds but can be applied to any convertible-bed where during folding or unfolding the bedding is exposed at the sides to scissor-like action of the bed mechanism.

The above description of the invention is intended in illustration and not in limitation thereof. Various minor changes or modifications in the embodiment described 3 may occur to those skilled in the art and these can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth.

I claim:

1. In a convertible bed which is adapted to be folded and unfolded and where the beddingis'exposed at the sides to scissor-like action of the bed mechanism, a mattress, two side link mechanisms having bedsprings stretched therebetween and supporting said mattress, each side mechanism including an intermediate section, a connecting section hinged thereto and amend section hinged to said connection section, and links and levers pivoted to said sections and generally lying on the outside thereof, said sections being adapted to foldintoU-shape in the process of which said links and levers move past each other and said sections in scissors-like fashion, a first short flexible but somewhat stiff barrier-like member fastened to the end part of said intermediate section adjacent said connecting section, a second short barrier-like member similar to the first and fastened to said-connecting section and extending'the length thereof, and a thirdshort harrier-like member similar to the first and fastened to the end part of said end section adjacent said connecting section, said members being positioned alongside said mattress between it and said links andlevers, whereby during folding and unfolding of said bed said mattress is kept from interfe'rring' with said side mechanisms and being damaged thereby.

2. The combination of elements as in'claim 1 in' which said barrier-like members are moulded composition guards having a lower edge of inverted 7 shaped'crosssection which is fastened to a respective section, having a rounded upper flanged edge and being mentioned by. a spring-like rib parallel to said edge and said flange and approximately midway therebetween.

3; In a convertible bed wihch is adapted to be folded and unfolded and where the bedding is exposed at the sides to scissor-like action of the bed mechanism, the combination of: two side link mechanisms with bed springs stretched therebetween, bedding supported on said springs, each of said mechanisms having a plurality of hinged sections and levers and links pivoted thereto and being adapted to fold with said bedding pressed between said springs, and a set of guards associated with said side mechanisms and comprising a plurality of members, each member fastenedtto a respective one of said sections between the edge of said bedding and the links and levers associated with said mechanism, said members being supported on said sections with said springs looped through matching eyelets in said members and said sections.

4. The combination of elements as in claim 3 wherein each guard member is a moulded rubber-like body having a length substantially greater than its width and a very small thickness, having an inverted 7 shaped lower edge and a curved flange on its upper edge, and having a reinforcing rib carried by said body along the length thereof.

5. In a convertible bed which is adapted to be folded and unfolded and where the bedding is exposed at the sides to scissor-like action of the bed mechanism, a relatively thick mattress, first, second and third bed sections serially pivoted together and having a bed spring stretched therebetween and supporting said mattress, said sections being adapted to extend horizontally in bed position and alternatively to be folded with said first section back over and generally parallel to said third section and with said mattress compressed therebetween, each bed section on each side thereof including a thin elongated rail whose width is much smaller than the thickness of said mattres and whose end is pivoted to the corresponding rail of the adjacent section, a pair of intermediate'legs and a pair of end legs attached to certain ones of said rails to support said sections when in bed position, and a plurality of'links and levers pivoted between said rails and said legs to fold or unfold them when the bed is being closed or opened, said links lying closely along said rails and moving in conjunction with said rails in a scissor-like'action when said bed is folded, and when said bed is folded and said mattress is compressed between said first and third sections said mattress tending' to be squeezed'out at the sides thereof between said rails and said links and levers, and guard means mounted on said sections and positioned between said mattress and said rails, links, and levers, said guard means including a plurality of self-supporting elongated thin relatively stiff members fastened to at least certain of said rails and extending upward therefrom by substantially the thickness'of said mattress whereby cutting and tearing of said mattress during the folding or unfolding of said bed is inhibited.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 339,282 Farrar Apr. 6, 1886 1,619,853 Correa Mar. 8, 1927 1,913,965 Van Vechten June 13, 1933 2,582,904 Harman Jan. 15, 1952 

